Laminitis in winter??

Great posts from Suejs.

My horse had a little lami this summer and has shown signs since the snow (she hasnt had frosty grass) my farrier also agree that the contact with the snow may have caused it, I hate Laminitis as well!
 
suejs001 said:
Oh and by the way Laminitis and Winter are not cushings related! My horse was 6!!! It could be that a horse is more insulin resistent or has Equine metabolic syndrome that can be a cause of lami, but any horse who has sensitive feet can get laminitis from snow freezing the feet.

Please unless you have direct experience on this matter or you are a vet please don't tell anyone this is not an issue. It is.
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There is a link with laminitis attacks & cushings in winter, it is related to the hours of daylight & the function of the pituitary gland, as the days are shorter there is an increase in the danger of an attack of laminitis. Meg most definately had cushings, & despite doing well on pergolide had a slight bout last winter. Cushings horses do not do well in the extreme cold either, so I am glad I chose to PTS in June as she would be really struggling now. I wish you well, I know what an awful strain it all is.
 
My arab has been stabled now for 5 days, having 1 bute a day, and it doesnt seem to be getting any better, im not soaking his hay {when he had concussion lami 4 years ago i didnt soak it then} he isnt baddley lame just a shortened stride, im really learning things from suejs posts, should i give him more bute? i really appreciate your comments.
 
ameeyal said:
My arab has been stabled now for 5 days, having 1 bute a day, and it doesnt seem to be getting any better, im not soaking his hay {when he had concussion lami 4 years ago i didnt soak it then} he isnt baddley lame just a shortened stride, im really learning things from suejs posts, should i give him more bute? i really appreciate your comments.
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If your horse isn't improving then I'd definitely be soaking hay; it really can make a difference. The sugar content in some hays can be very high, and certainly too high for a horse suffering from laminitis. The fact that you didn't need to soak four years ago might mean that it was lower sugar hay anyway, or your horse is more susceptible as he ages. Unless you get your hay analysed you have no way of knowing whether it is safe or not.

I had one that did come right on unsoaked hay, but another that didn't and I wouldn't take the risk now. Certainly a safer option than increasing his bute.

I hope he improves soon.
 
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Thanks for that im off now to soak some hay would an hour be ok, when he improves do i need to always soak his hay, which i can not do as he lives out with my other ponys, and has 24 hour access to unsoaked hay in a field shelter, i am never going to complain about muddy fields again.
 
If your horse hasnt responded to box rest and bute in 5 days I would prob get the Vet to look, in the meantime soak the hay, I used magnetic leg wraps on my mare and that helped a lot to get the circulation going. Hope you horse improves soon.
 
ameeyal said:
Thanks for that im off now to soak some hay would an hour be ok, when he improves do i need to always soak his hay, which i can not do as he lives out with my other ponys, and has 24 hour access to unsoaked hay in a field shelter, i am never going to complain about muddy fields again.
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An hours soaking will help, but 12 hours is better still!

Once he's over the initial attack he may well be fine on unsoaked hay (mine is at the moment,) but I'd introduce it carefully and monitor for any changes in the digital pulse.
 
My arab is getting worse, im going to ring my blacksmith today to see if he thinks his shoes need to come off, or i need to get the vet out, im getting worried about him.
 
So sorry to hear that he is worse, mine is unshod anyway, but I would remove the shoes and make him comfy with pads or deep bedding if I were you.

It might be worth getting the vet first just in case something like pergolide might help, or he needs stronger painkillers, is he very old?
 
Hi, I'm sorry to hear that your horse is'nt improving.
It is sometimes better to leave their shoes on unless they are due for doing anyway, as this can cause further problems especially if it is a long time since the horse was without shoes.
If you are at that stage the vet is a must, they will work together with you and your farrier to keep your horse healthy.
The vet and farrier can work together to sort his feet out, even if they both are with you at the same time when the shoes are removed, vet will decide IF and when he needs styro foam pads etc. Your horse may need xrays to determine if there have been any significant changes that need attention.

I dont want this to come across as a rant, but I have been in your position so many times with my own and others and it is awful.
Please, please get the vet out, even just to have piece of mind that you and your horse are heading in the right direction.
If my mare is still iffy in the morning then vet it is, she is loads better but just not right.
 
I had the vet out, he said to remove his shoes {they were only put on 2 weeks ago} and he is on a deep bed, he gave him a painkiller in his vein, and gave me some bute and acps, he said he had seen loads of horses come down with laminitus in the last 2 weeks, he said if he hasnt improved by next week, he will do blood tests for insulin, he said he wasnt your typical insulin type {he is a fit lean arab} but he wont rule it out, luckerly for me he just loves been in a stable.How is your horse today Jayned?
 
Hiya, Lizzie seems much better, still not 100% sound. She did have an abcess burst out the side of her frog on boxing day, so was poulticed for a few days. We suspected she had one brewing on christmas eve but farrier got no reaction with hoof testers. It expalins why she had a puffy fetlock and a stronger pulse in that leg. Has definately been caught in the v early stages of laminitis though, much improved for being in a small paddock on soaked hay and a more suitable feed. I can't keep her in as she is a menace! If it's not nailed down it gets played with, she destroyed a hose pipe a few weeks ago and a tub tug! She was only in to be sedated for her teeth.
My farrier rekons that Lizzie is on her way if not all ready there in the way of insulin resistance, due to her having all the typical fat pads. She does'nt however had an uncontrollable appetite of drink lots like my last pony did, he was on his way to being medicated though. I share with a pony that is on medication for EMS to look at her now you would never think it, but she was a right porker when she arrived.

Am pleased that you have a vet who knows what they are doing when it comes to laminitis, it makes it so much easier as an owner. I know of a few locally that have shown early sign recently, don't know if it's frosty grass, ground or hay, could just be one of those winters.
I hope you boy improves soon.
 
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